Nuclear-powered 100,000-ton USS Ford exits Iran war after onboard fire

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is withdrawing from the Red Sea to Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete following a fire on March 12 in its aft laundry facility. The fire, which was non-combat-related, spread through ventilation into adjacent berthing areas, destroying over 100 beds and displacing more than 600 sailors. Two sailors sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with one evacuated ashore, and over 200 others treated for smoke inhalation. The Navy airlifted replacement mattresses and clothing from the USS John F. Kennedy to support the affected crew. Although damage control lasted over a day, the fire itself did not burn continuously for 30 hours, a period that included firefighting and cleanup efforts. The Navy is investigating whether the fire was deliberately set by sailors aboard the Ford. The Ford’s deployment, which began in June 2025, has been marked by extensive operations across the Caribbean, Mediterranean,